Spain | Rioja

 

Laguardia Vineyards in Rioja

The Rioja wine region is located in northern Spain, on both sides of the River Ebro. It was the first Spanish wine region to obtain DO status in 1925 and in 1991, it was promoted to DOCa (Qualified Designation of Origin), a higher category reserved for wines maintaining a proven consistency and quality over a long period of time.

Geographically, Rioja is divided in to three districts: Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta and Rioja Oriental (called Rioja Baja until 2018) and while each district has distinct differences, there is no hierarchy of quality between them. Rioja Alavesa lies in the northwest of the La Rioja region in the Basque province of Álava. Along with Rioja Alta, it is the heartland of the Tempranillo grape.

Rioja Alta, to the north-west and south of the Ebro River in the province of La Rioja, stretches as far as the city of Logroño. Elegance and poise is the hallmark of wines made here. Rioja Oriental, located to the south-east, is the hottest of the three districts and specialises in wines made from the Garnacha grape.

Rioja produces a collection of red, white and rosé wines, but it is the reds that account for the greater part of its fame. Ageing classifications have, until recently, been the primary means for separating one wine from another.

Rioja Joven (‘young’) wines are destined for early drinking and they often see little or no oak and are only aged for one to two years before release.

Rioja labelled as Crianza are aged for two years (one year in oak and one year in bottle) and are best suited for early or mid-term enjoyment.

Rioja Reserva wines are aged for three years, often one year in oak and two years in bottle; however there are producers who go above and beyond this requirement with their Reserva wines. Rioja Reserva wines can be age-worthy or offer serious immediate consumption.

Rioja Gran Reserva wines have been regarded as the region’s pinnacle; they are at least five years old (two years in oak barrel and three years in bottle) and are generally ready to drink. But they can age for years too; their long barrel ageing often renders them gentle and complex, rather than big and rich.

While the region is rightly famous for its reds, the true 'Insider's Choice' is Rioja Blanco. Historically consumed only by the winemakers themselves, these complex, barrel-fermented white wines are now recognized as some of the finest in the world, offering a serious alternative to White Burgundy

Delve Deeper

Entrance to Macán Winery in La Rioja Alta, Spain

Bodega Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia | Rioja Alta
Bodega Contador | Rioja Alta

Bodega Contador | Rioja Alta
Bodega Lanzaga Rioja Logo

Bodega Lanzaga | Rioja Alavesa
Finca Martelo Vineyard Marker Stone

Bodega Torre de Oña | Rioja Alavesa
Bodegas Amezola de la Mora Rioja Wine Cellars

Bodegas Amézola de la Mora | Rioja Alavesa
Bodegas Bideona Rioja Alavesa Collection Logo

Bodegas Bideona | Rioja Alavesa
Bodegas Hermanos Peciña Logo

Bodegas Hermanos Peciña | Rioja Alavesa
The hexagonal domes of Bodegas Olarra

Bodegas Ondarre | La Rioja
Alvaro Palacios

Bodegas Palacios Remondo | Rioja Oriental
R. López de Heredia Observation Tower at Haro

Bodegas R. López de Heredia | Rioja Alta
Bodegas Valdemar Cork

Bodegas Valdemar | La Rioja
Artadi Wine Capsules

Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi | Álava
Bodegas Y Viñedos Pujanza Logo

Bodegas y Viñedos Pujanza | Rioja Alavesa
Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Logo

Bodegas Zugober | Rioja Alavesa
C.V.N.E. Rioja Logo

C.V.N.E. | Rioja Alta
El Coto Stag's Head Logo

El Coto | Rioja Alavesa
Miguel Angel Gregorio of Finca Allende

Finca Allende | Rioja Alta
The stones 'piedra' of Finca Valpiedra

Finca Valpiedra | Rioja Alta
Izadi Collection Image

Izadi | Rioja Alavesa
Jesús Madrazo Wines Logo

Jesús Madrazo Wines | Rioja
La Rioja Alta S.A. | Rioja Alta

La Rioja Alta S.A. | Rioja Alta
Old Bottles of Marqués de Riscal Rioja

Marqués de Riscal | Rioja Alavesa
Viña Eguía Wine Label

Viña Eguía | Rioja Alavesa
Clean Viña Real Gran Reserva Bottle in Wine Rack next to dusty old bottles

Viña Real | Rioja Alavesa

THE LINE UP

Asúa Rioja Crianza Red Wine Bottle

C.V.N.E. Asúa Rioja Crianza 2022
£13.50
£13.50
/
A fantastic value, super juicy Rioja Crianza from the renowned stable of C.V.N.E... Read More...
Viña Ardanza Rioja Reserva 2019

Viña Ardanza Rioja Reserva 2019
from £31.00
from £31.00
/
An outstanding Rioja of pure pleasure from a superb vintage... Read More...
Viña Arana Rioja Gran Reserva La Rioja Alta S.A Magnum Bottle (150cl)

Viña Arana Rioja Gran Reserva 2017
from £46.00
from £46.00
/
Fantastic value Rioja Gran Reserva produced by La Rioja Alta... Read More...
Conde Valdemar Rioja Rosé Bottle

Conde Valdemar Rioja Rosé 2024
£12.50
£12.50
/
A fruity, delicate style of rosé from the La Rioja region of Spain... Read More...
Bodegas Ondarre Rioja Gran Reserva

Bodegas Ondarre Rioja Gran Reserva 2019
£17.50
£17.50
/
Great value, elegant and velvety Gran Reserva Rioja from an excellent vintage... Read More...
Conde Valdemar Rioja Blanco Bottle

Conde Valdemar Rioja Blanco 2024
£12.00
£12.00
/
A refreshing unoaked white Rioja from the respected family-owned Bodegas Valdemar... Read More...
La Rioja Alta S.A. 904 Rioja Gran Reserva 'Selección Especial' 2015 Bottle

La Rioja Alta S.A. 904 Rioja Gran Reserva 'Selección Especial' 2015
£70.00
£70.00
/
Year after year this is one of the best value wines in the world... Read More...
Conde Valdemar Rioja Tempranillo Bottle

Conde Valdemar Rioja Tempranillo 2024
£12.50
£12.50
/
Pure, juicy unoaked Tempranillo from the Rioja Alavesa... Read More...
Finca Valpiedra Rioja Reserva

Finca Valpiedra Rioja Reserva 2016
£27.00
£27.00
/
A single vineyard Rioja of spectacular quality from Familia Martínez Bujanda... Read More...
Conde Valdemar Rioja Reserva

Conde Valdemar Rioja Reserva 2018
£21.00
£21.00
/
An award-winning Rioja Reserva made from estate grown Tempranillo, Graciano & Garnacha... Read More...
Conde Valdemar Rioja Gran Reserva

Conde Valdemar Rioja Gran Reserva 2017
£32.00
£32.00
/
The Conde Valdemar Rioja Gran Reserva is an award winning red wine from... Read More...
Conde Valdemar Rioja Edición Limitada

Conde Valdemar Rioja Edición Limitada 2020
£46.00
£46.00
/
The Conde Valdemar Rioja Edición Limitada is an exclusive limited bottling of Rioja... Read More...
Sold Out
Bodegas Valdemar Balcón de Pilatos Maturana Rioja Red Wine

Valdemar Balcón de Pilatos Maturana 2019
£33.00
£33.00
/
Maturana Tinta, a near extinct red variety not grown anywhere else in the world... Read More...
Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Macán

Macán Rioja 2018
£88.00
£88.00
/
The outstanding flagship Rioja of Benjamín de Rothschild & Vega Sicillia... Read More...
Macán Clásico Rioja

Macán Clásico Rioja 2020
£58.00
£58.00
/
Freshness, fruitiness & delicacy are the hallmarks of Macán Clásico... Read More...
La Rioja Alta Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva Red Wine

Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva | Magnum (150cl)
£43.00
£43.00
/
The Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva, from the La Rioja Alta stable, is 100%... Read More...
Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi Valdeginés Rioja

Artadi Valdeginés 2019
£47.00
£47.00
/
Silky-smooth organic red wine produced at the heart of the Rioja Alevesa... Read More...
Conde Valdemar Rioja Crianza 2021

Conde Valdemar Rioja Crianza 2021
£16.50
£16.50
/
Crianza style Rioja made with a unique blend of Tempranillo and Graciano from Rioja Alta and Rioja Alevesa... Read More...
Conde Valdemar Rioja Blanco Finca Alto Cantabria Bottle

Conde Valdemar Rioja Blanco Finca Alto Cantabria 2023
£29.00
£29.00
/
Award-winning Viura fermented in new, French oak barrels & limited in production... Read More...
Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Gran Reserva

Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Gran Reserva 2014
£32.00
£32.00
/
An exquisite Rioja Gran Reserva made from 50 year old vines... Read More...
Finca Allende Rioja Tinto Bottle

Finca Allende Rioja Tinto 2015
£26.00
£26.00
/
A Rioja of power, great balance, elegance and the structure for ageing... Read More...
Palacios Remondo La Montesa Rioja

Bodegas Palacios Remondo La Montesa Rioja Crianza 2021
£22.00
£22.00
/
An incredibly well-balanced wine with velvety red fruits and sweet spice... Read More...
Bodegas Ondarre Rioja Reserva

Bodegas Ondarre Rioja Reserva 2020
£15.00
£15.00
/
Tremendous value, award-winning Rioja Reserva blending Tempranillo, Mazuelo & Garnacha grapes... Read More...
Bodegas Zugober Belezos 50/50 Rioja

Belezos 50/50 Rioja 2024
£12.75
£12.75
/
A bright and fruity young Rioja from the family owned Bodegas Zugober Read More...
La Rioja Alta Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva Bottle

Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva 2020
£21.00
£21.00
/
Viña Alberdi stands out for its food pairing versatility... Read More...
Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Reserva

Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Reserva 2019
£20.00
£20.00
/
An award-winning, opulent style of Reserva from the Rioja Alavesa region Read More...
Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Crianza Bottle

Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Crianza 2022
from £8.50
from £8.50
/
Classic Rioja from the quality focussed, family-owned, Bodegas Zugober Read More...
Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Blanco Spanish White Wine

Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Blanco 2023
£15.00
£15.00
/
A gorgeous barrel-fermented White Rioja from Bodegas Zugober Read More...